TIBET, TSANG PROVINCE, 16TH CENTURY

With hands in vajrahumkara, the primordial buddha Vajradhara in bodhisattva garb, holds a ghanta (Tib. dril bu) symbolizing the female aspect of wisdom and a vajra (Tib. rdo rje) symbolizing the male aspect of skillful means and compassion. This important Tibetan Buddhist deity is understood as the primary and ceaseless source of Vajrayana teachings. The present example has a remarkably tranquil posture and countenance with slightly-upturned lips and half-closed eyes that resemble a number of other examples attributed to South-central Tibet. It is distinguished, however, by its carefully-inlaid bits of silver and copper that give a brightness to the face. The figure’s facial features are quite similar and its ornaments nearly identical to the figure of Vajradhara in the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art, which is also dated to this period (C2005.37.1). By the 16th century, when these two examples were likely created, this particular atelier seems to have already established a discernable style, integrating features of other schools including the early-15th-century Yongle and Xuande gilt-bronzes of China.